Chapter 398: Couple Killers (2/2)

”In fact, I recently investigated the wealthy folk of Nanjiang City who match the age and characteristics,” said Xiaotao. “I discovered that there are quite a few second-generation rich kids.”

“How many?” I asked.

”A few hundred, but that’s not including the illegitimate children and those studying abroad,” replied Xiaotao.

Right then, an officer came up to us and reported that he had found something. We walked to an inconspicuous corner piled with some burnt debris. A chair leg and some glass fragments were visible in the ashes.

I leaned in, sniffing at the debris. The murderers used gasoline and started a fire so intense the smoke reached the ceiling.

”The murderers actually thought of destroying the evidence! That doesn’t make any sense!” I exclaimed.

”Why not?” puzzled Xiaotao.

Because it didn't align with the image I had of them in my mind. They were impulsive and acted without any regard for the consequences. Moreover, they were probably drugged and delirious when they committed the crime. I didn't think they would be cautious enough to destroy the evidence.

I rummaged through the ashes and found burnt condoms, alcohol bottles, parts of the chair, gloves, ropes and syringes. ”Can the semen in the condoms still be tested for DNA?” asked Xiaotao.

I shook my head, ”I'm afraid not. If you want to be extra careful, you can send it for testing.”

What concerned me most weren’t the condoms, but the broken alcohol bottles. After searching for some time, I managed to find two fragments that could be put together. I repeatedly ran my eyes over the surface of the bottle and sniffed under my nose. It was pure whisky. I continued searching for all available fragments of the broken bottles and spread them on the ground for observation.

”What are you looking at?” Xiaotao wondered out loud.

”These fragments are large enough that they don't seem to have been broken by force. But they weren’t broken by the heat of the fire either. Instead, it seems as if they fell naturally at a height of about two meters. And they landed bottom first, so the bottoms of the bottles were crushed.”

”Is there a mystery to these bottles?” Xiaotao queried.

”Indeed there is!” I smiled cryptically.

When we returned to where the bodies were, I crouched down, desperately sniffing the ground. Puzzled as to what I was looking for, Xiaotao suggested, ”Get the technical team to help you find whatever it is!”

Instead of answering, I continued sniffing, picking up a little dust in my nasal cavity which made me cough. Finally, I caught a whiff of alcohol in a spot not too far from the female victim’s position–next to a pillar.

I stood up and looked at the beam above, pointed to one spot and analyzed, ”The other end of the rope was attached here, and a man was standing here. Something happened which made him drop the bottle in his hand.”

”Perhaps he was drunk... or just too high!” Xiaotao shrugged.